5. MOANA MACKEY (Labour) Link to this
to the Minister of Education
What reports has he received about professional development support given to teachers?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY (Minister of Education) Link to this
The Government has invested more than $100 million in 2005 for professional development of teachers, including over $20 million to enable teachers to lift students’ literacy and numeracy standards, around $12 million to increase teachers’ skill and confidence in the use of information and communications technology, and around $7 million to support professional development of school principals. Those are all very good policies.
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
I have seen a report from the Post Primary Teachers Association (PPTA) that describes one piece of professional advice to a college principal as “unprovoked, malicious, unethical and inexcusable”. That advice concludes: “Yes, I do have a knife in your back, so be careful!”. The comment was made by National’s current associate education spokesperson, Allan Peachey, to a college principal in his own Tamaki electorate. Although Mr Peachey has apologised for being caught out, he has not yet explained his words or reassured the school that he has no intention of putting them into action.